Loading apparatus.



W. B. GROVER.

LOADING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION rILBn HAY a, 1900.

902,873. Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

F B SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. E. GROVER. LOADING APPABATUs. APPLLULTION FILED MAY 6, 1303.

902,873. Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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W. B. GROVBR. LOADING APPARATUS. uruou'mn nun MAY 6, was.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

8 BKBBTS-BHEBT 8.

V v V Wgm UNITED STATESLPATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM 1*). GROVER, OF BURT, IOWA.

LOADING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 6, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM E. Gnovnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burt, in the county of Kossuth and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loading Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in loading apparatus, and particularly to an apparatus or mechanism, which is adapted to facilitate the loading of material on a wagon.

he object of the invention is the provision of means for facilitating the loading of material onto a vehicle, as for instance, a wagon, by first an openended box and then swinging the box to a dumping position, whereby the material is thrown partly or entirely upon an inclined chute or platform, and thence falls into the receptacle or box of the vehicle or wagon.

Another object of the invention is the peculiar construction of the frame of a loading apparatus, which frame is provided with runners, adapted to support a swinging box, and said frame is also provided with a chute or inclined platform overhanging one end thereof.

\Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel construe tions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure depicted in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus or mechanism. Fig. 4. is an end-view of the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a brace.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates a pair of runners; each runner is curved or rounded at its ends. Positioned upon each runner is a primary standard 1, and an auxiliary standard 2. A horizontal beam 3 connects the primary and auxiliary standards carried by each runner. The horizontal beam 3 is beveled, as at 1, near one end, for the purpose hereinafter described; the beveled end of the beam rests upon the top or upper end of the auxiliary standard 2. An inclined brace 5 is positioned be- Specification of Letters Patent.

depositing the material in l Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Serial No. 431,182.

tween the standards of each runner and braces the same, for said brace bears at its lower end 6, Fig. 1, against a runner and at its upper end 7 against one side of a pri mary beam 1, making a very eliicient brace for strengthening the side of the frame. A base-beam S is positioned between the standards 2 near their bottom and strengthens the same, while an auxiliary base-beam 9 is positioned contiguous to the inner faces of the standards 1 and rest upon the top or runners 1 Fig. 1. Positioned between beams 8 and 9 are crossing-beams or braces 10, constituting an Xshaped brace for the lower portion of the frame.

Resting upon the top of the runners 1 and engaging the outer faces or sides of the auxiliary standards are angle-braces 11,

lwhich braces are fixedly secured to said runners and standards.

A horizontal beam 12 is positioned between the auxiliary standards '2, which are secured near their upper ends, said beam being supported, preferably, upon angle brackets or braces 13.

It will be noted that the runners 1 extend a considerable distance beyond the outer faces or walls of the auxiliary standards 2, for normally supporting the open-endcd box 11, carried by the swinging beams 15, which beams 15 are pivotally mounted upon the extended ends of rod 16; the rod 16 is positioned within apertures formed near the upper edge of the runners, and, preferably, contiguous to the base of the auxiliary standards 1. The swingingbeams 15 are secured upon the horizontal rod 16 against accidental displacement by means of nuts 17. The beams 15 are positioned outside of the runners 1*, and their lower edges normally rest in a horizontal plane above the lower edges of the runners, so that the apparatus can be drawn over the ground without moving the beams or having the beams come in contact with the ground.

The open-ended box or receptacle 1 comprises a bottom 18 and sides 19. The bot tom is, preferably, composed of boards secured near their ends to the top of the beams 15, and the sides comprise boards or, preferably, strips secured near their ends to short, vertical, inclined blocks or beams 20 and 21. The short,miter-beams21 are braced by angle-plates 22, which plates are secured to the outer face of said blocks or beams 21 and to the top of the beams 15, whereas the inner, vertical beams are each engaged by the upper angle portion of a. brace 23, and the top of a beam 15 1S engaged by the angle foot 24 of said brace, because said brace is provided with a straight body and with angularly-disposed ends, Fig. 1. To the outer face or edge of each beam 15, and positioned at each end of the receptacle or box 14 is an inclined chute or guide or skid 25, which is securely fastened at its upper end to the beam, and is adapted to permit a scoop or wagon to pass up over the same and into the box for permitting a load to be dumped in the box prior to the box bein swung upward for dumping the same. The guide or skid 25 is beveled at its lower end, and also at its upper end, for permitting the lower end to lie flat against the ground and the upper end to lie flat against the outer side of a beam, and thereby place the member or guide 25 at a proper an le for facilitating the passage of a receptae e, containing a load, into the box or receptacle 1% between the sides 19. The bottom 18 is braced by transverse beams or cleats, which are secured to the under face of the boards or beams forming the bottom, Fig. 3.

For strengthening the frame and assisting in securely fastening the auxiliary standards 2 to the horizontal, upper beams 3, I provide braces which comprise angularly-disposed ends 27 connected by an inclined, central portion 28. and any suitable fastening means is employed for securin the ends 27 to the standards and beams, Fig. 1. The inclined body portion permits the inclined, inner side 19 of the box 14 to pass over the upper end of standard 2, when the box or receptacle is swung for dumping the same, as hereinafter described. Therefore, it Will be noted that while the angle braces carried by the contiguous ends of beams 3 and standa rds 2 strengthen the structure, they do not interfere with the operation of the box or receptacle 14. Furthermore, the inner vertical beams or blocks 20 pass freely by the upper ends of standards 2 and the outer ends of the beams it supported upon said standards.

The primary standards 1 extend above beams 3 and support, upon their upper ends, a horizontal beam 29 of the chute or inclined platform 30; the beam 29 being beveled, at :51, for receiving the upper ends of the boards or the members forming said chute or inclined platform. Short beams 32 are secured, at their inner ends, against the outer faces of standards 1, and resting upon their outer ends is a horizontal beam 33, which beam supports the lower end of the platform or chute 30, for the beam 33 is beveled at 3+, for receiving said platform. A brace 35 extends across the inner ends of beams 3 and 32, Fig. 1, and also across the inner faces of the primary standards 1 for securely t t l t t t t t fastening said beams and standards together; the upper ends of beams 1 are also braced through the medium of angle plates or braces 36, which braces are secured to the innersides of the standards 1 and to the top of the beams 3, Fig. 1.

Secured to the outer sides of beams 32 are horizontal blocks 37, which constitute stops, because the inner ends 38 (disposed at rightangles to the sides of standards 1) are engaged by the tops or upper edges of the beams 15, when said beams are swung to the vertical position shown by dotted lines, Fig. 3, for dumping the receptacle or box 14. It will, therefore, be noted that each horizontal beam constituting the framework of the platform or chute is provided with a .laterally-extending stop upon its outer face or side adapted to be engaged by a swinging beam of the loadreceiving and dumping means.

A pair of standards 39 guide members or intermediate is positioned near the center of the beam 29, and their lower ends rest upon a horizontal beam interposed between and secured to the bottom of the lower ends of the primary standards 1. Brackets 41 are secured in horizontal alinement, upon the primary standards, and journaled in these brackets 41 is a horizontal shaft 42. A large pulley or grooved wheel 43 is fixedly secured to shaft 42, between the guide members or intermediate standards 39, and fixedly secured to the shaft 42 between the primary standards 1 and the interi'nediate standards 39 are spools or drums at. A pulley 45 is secured to the outer face of beam 40, and passing over pulley 45, is a cable or rope 46, which is wound around the large pulley 43: said pulley 43 constituting a drum. A draft animal can be attached to the rope or cable 46, and upon drawing on the cable, the large pulley or drum 43 will be rotated for winding the cables or ropes 17 attached to the auxiliary spools or drums +1. The ropes or cables 47 pass through elongated openings or slots 48 formed in the platform or chute 30, and extend over a portion of and engage rollers or pulleys 49, which are journaled upon small brackets 50 carried by the upper portion of the platform,- the pulleys or rollers 49 extend across the openings or slots 48. The openings or slots 48 form a guide for preventing the cable or rope from being displaced off of the rollers or pulleys 49. The cables or rope 47 also pass over pulleys or rollers 51, which are journaled upon angle brackets 52, secured to the upper portion of the horizontal beam 12, and said cables or ropes are secured near one end to a pair of angle brackets that are fastened to the reinforcing cleats or braces 26 of the receptacle or box 14; the cables or rods extending through eyes 54 of said braces or plates 53, Fig. 3. When the cable 46 is drawn out- Ward and the drum 4:3 is rotated for winding the cables or ropes 47 upon drums 44, the beams 15 will be swun the receptacle or box 14 will be moved to the position shown by'dotted lines in Fig. 3, for dumping the contents thereof, out upon the chute or platform 30 and into the receptacle, should a receptacle, as for instance, a wagonboX be placed under or contiguous to the lower or discharge-end of the platform or chute.

To facilitate the raising of the receptacle or box 14, when the same is loaded, 1 have provided means constituting a counterbalance, and said means comprises a pair of angle brackets 55 carried by the upper face of beam 12, and each bracket is provided with a base portion and with a laterally-extending, horizontal portion; between the horizontal portions are journaled the rollers or pulleys 56 over each one of which is passed a portion of a cable or rope 57, which rope has its ends secured to brackets or.

plates 53, as I, preferably, secure a series of these plates to the bottom of the receptas cle 1 The cable or rod or flexible member is looped around the outer pulley or roller 56 and in the loop is placed a weight 58, by means of a substantially U-shaped member 59 engaging directly the rope or cable and passing through the body of the weight. The weight will slide in the loop, when the receptacle or box is lifted, and will counterbalance the weight of the load. although, when the cable 16 is slackencd, the weight of the beams 15 and the receptacle 14 is snflicient to cause the same to drop down to its normal horizontal position upon the runners 1'.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a brace (it), which is attached to the horizontal beam 40; there are two of these braces. each of which is attached to the outer face of one of the primary standards 1, and the horizontal, angularly-disposed portion 61 rests against the top of one of the runners 1.

It is to be noted that I have provided means for permitting the material. as for instance, dirt, gravel and manure. to be placed in a scoop or a wagon and quickly conveyed upon a platform, which is adapted to swing upward and be dumped upon a platform or dumped for directly placing its lead in the body r instance, an ordinary Va on. Furthermore, I can use my apparatus ot loading manure upon a spreader, and it will be understood that fine manure or dirt or gravel can be loaded into the receptacle or box l i, constituting a platform, with a team and scraper. as in actual use, the platform a team to be driven through from either side. owing to its open-ended structure; the same team is, preferably, used in dumpii'tg or loading manure on to the spreader or into the upon rod 16 and l is large enough for bed of a vehicle, as for l a other man is unloading box or bed of the wagon. One man usually employed for placing the load in the receptacle, or open-ended platform 14, while anthe spreader or the wagon box, and thus it will be seen that two persons can accomplish a large amount of work. for one person can be loading the reccptrtclc it while another person is unloading the automatic spreader. as for instance, a manure spreader, which spreader is loaded by the dumping of the receptacle It, as hereinbclorc described.

I have provided a very eliicicnt device by constructing the rear end of the framework with a. pair of primary standards and with interim-diatc standards and the journaling of an inner shaft upon liter-e standards and placing spools or pulleys thereon for accomplishing the desired result. it will be understood that the central primary pulley or drum is considerably larger than the other drums for the reason that the comparatively short travel of the animal will serve to winda. large quantity of the cables or ropes or llexiblc members 4T upon the auxiliary drums 4i and quickly dump the receptacle or llanged platform l'-l-. The guide members or intermediate standards Ill constitute braces for the central pulley or drum, and thereby minimize the lateral strain thereon. for a slight lateral movement of the wheel would cause the same to engage one of the guide members or intermediate standards.

\Vhat l claim is:

'l. in an apparatus of the class described, the combination with runners, of a frame comprising a plurality of standards, crossed beams positioned l'ictwccn said standards and reinforcing the lower ends thereof. inclined braces positioned between the ta11tla1tls at each side, an inclined platform carried by some of said stalulards, and lozul'recciving and holding means movably mounted upon said frame and adapted to swing over the same and discharge a load upon the inclined platform.

In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame provided with runners. the runners extending a considerable t'listancc beyond one side of said frame. said i'rznnc providcd with primary and auxiliary standards. the auxiliary standards of less height than the primary standards. an inclined platform secured upon the upper ends of said primary standards and overhanging one end of said frame, stops secured to the frame contiguous to said primary standards, beams pivotaliy mounted upon said runners, an open-ended receptacle fixedly ecured to said beams and normally resting upon the extended ends of said run net' said beams adapted to be moved for swinging said opcnctnltul receptacle over the upper ends of said anrdliary standards t id against the stops, thereby placing the rcccptacle in a dumped position above the primary standards and contiguous to the platform.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a frame provided at one end with an overhanging chute or platform and provided at its opposite end with out\vardl v-extending runners. a movable receptacle normally resting upon said runners, and means pirotallv connecting said receptacle to said runners and frame, and means for moving said receptacle from off of said runners and over a portion of said frame and placing the same in a dumped position above said platform.

i. In an apparatus of the class (lQSCllbOtl, the combination with a frame provided with standards, a beam positioned upon the upper ends of and connecting said standards, beams extending horizontally from said standards, a beam provided with a beveled upper face, resting upon said last-mentioned beams, an inclined platform resting upon the beveled beam and upon the beam carried by said standard, and load-conveying means pivotally mounted upon said frame and being adapted to dump a load upon the platform.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame provided with standards and with horizontal beams resting upon the upper ends of said standards, said horizontal beams beveled at their ends contiguous to said standards, angle braces covering the beveled portion of said beams and overlapping portions of the standards and the upper faces of the beams, and means securing said braces to beams, said frame provided with a platform contiguous to the opposite end of said beams, and means for movably supporting a receptacle upon said frame, said receptacle adapttending outwardly ed to swing over the braced ends of said standards and said beams and be positioned above said platform, and means for swinging said receptacle upon said frame.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, said frame provided with primary standards and a pair of interuiediatt-i standards positioned between said primary standards, a single horizontal shaft journaled upon all of said standards, a large pulley or drum fixedly secured to said shaft and positioned between said intermediate standards, a plurality of auxiliary drums fixedly secured to said shaft and positioned between said primary standards and said intermediate standards, beams pivotally mounted upon said frame, a receptacle fix edly secured to said beams, means flexibly connecting said auxiliary drums to said re,- eeptacle, and means cooperating with said primary drum for rotating said shaft and thereby winding said flexible connecting said standards and said l i i means upon said auxiliary drums for moving said receptacle upon the frame.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame provided with a pair of auxiliary standards and a pair of intermediate standards positioned between said auxiliary standards, a bracket secured. to each of said standards and all of the brackets positioned in alinemcnt, a single shaft journaled in said brackets, a primary pulley or drum fixedly secured to the shaft and positioned between the intermediate standards, s'iools or drums fixedly secured to the shaft etween the primary standards and the intermediate standards, a movable receptacle carried by said frame, cables secured to said receptacle near one end and to the auxiliary spools or drums near their opposite end, and means for rotating said primary pulley or drum for winding the cables upon the auxiliary drums and thereby moving the receptacle.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combina ion with a frame provided with vertical standards and horizontal beams, of horizontal blocks secured to the beams contiguous to said vertical standards, said blocks constituting stops, :1 pair of beams pivotally secured near their inner ends to said frame and provided near their outer ends with load-receiving means, an inclined platform or chute positioned above the upper ends of said standards and contiguous to said stops, and means for swinging said beams for raising the load-receiving means over the frame and placing the same in a dumped position above said platform and the beams in engagement with one end of the stops.

5.). In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame provided with primary standards and with short beams exfrom the primary standards, a horizontal beam resting upon the short beams near their outer ends, said horizontal beam provided with an upper beveled face, a horizontal beam provided with an upper, beveled face, resting upon the upper ends of said standards, a platform resting upon the beveled faces of said beveled beams, the short beams and the platform overhanging one end of the frame, and an open-ended receptacle pivotally mounted upon the frame and adapted to swing over a portion thereof and be placed in a dumped position above the platform.

it). In a loading and the combination with a horizontal beams, of

dumping mechanism, frame provided with a pair of swinging beams pivotally connected at their inner ends to the lower portion of said frame, an openended receptacle or platform positioned near the outer ends of and secured to said swinging beams, a pair of pulleys positioned near opposite ends of said frame, an inclined platform or chute carried by the frame contiguous to one of the pairs of pulleys, a plurality of cables passing over all of the pulleys and secured near one end to the receptacle, and means connected to the opposite end of said cables below said platform for swinging said receptacle to a dumped position contiguous to or above said platform.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a frame, and a movable receptacle carried by said frame, of a pair of brackets carried by said frame, a plurality of rollers or pulleys journalcd upon said brackets, a cable slidably mounted upon said pulleys and looped around one of the pulleys, means securing the ends of the cable to said receptacle, a Weight movably mounted upon the looped portion of the cable, and means for moving said receptacle upon said frame.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a frame and a movable receptacle carried by said frame, of a pair of brackets carried by said frame, a plurality of rollers or pulleys journaled upon said brackets, a cable slidably mounted upon said pulleys and looped around one of the pulleys, means securing the ends of the cable to said receptacle, a weight movably mounted upon the looped portion of the cable, said weight provided with a substantially U- shaped member slidably engaging said cable and having its ends extending through the body of the weight, and means for swinging said receptacle upon said frame.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a frame, of a swinging receptacle carried by said frame, a plurality of parallel brackets carried by said frame, each bracket provided with a base and with a body portion extending laterally from one side of said base, rotatable H1QD1 bers journaled upon the body portion of said brackets, means secured to said receptacle and passing over the rotatable members and normally exerting an upward pull upon said receptacle, and means for swinging said re ccptacle upon said frame for placing the same in a dumped position.

14-, In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame provided with upper horizontal beams and with standards projecting above said lmrimmlal beams, a platform positioned above the extended ends of Said beams, said platform provided with slots, pulleys or rollers extending across said slots, a movable receptacle positioned contiguous to said frame, a pair of cables attached near one end to said receptacle and passing over the pulleys and through the slots of the platform, whereby when the cables are drawn over the pulleys, the 1'cce 'itacle will be raised over the frame and placed in a dumped position contiguous to the platform.

15. in an apparatus of the class dwu-ribml. the mnnbinalion with a support, of plu rality of beams pivot ally mounted near their inner ends upon said support, an open ended re eptacle fixedly secured to said beams, said receptacle provided with vertical stai'ulards, braces provided with angularly-disposed ends, one of the angle ends of each brace secured to a standard and the opposite angle end secured to the beam, and an inclined skid secured contiguous to the bottom of and at the end of the re ceptacle.

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

W'ILLTAM E. GROVER.

WVitnesses:

J. W. SULLIVAN, CARRIE STALEY. 

